"RODE OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS HERETIC": THE POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION OF SAM HOUSTON AND THE SOUTHERN WHIG LEGACY, 1848-1861.

The article looks at mid-19th century U.S. politics, focusing on the political career of Texas Governor and U.S. Senator Sam Houston in the context of party politics in the Southern states. It looks at how historians have assessed Houston's membership in the American Party, or Know-Nothings, and discusses Houston's views on matters including slavery, temperance, and Southern secession. The author presents a case for the view that Houston's politics reflect the legacy of the Whig party.